Tanzer 28, splash day

[skylark]

Since I know you all like pictures, here are a few I snapped yesterday while launching.







What? no propellor? Its a vestigial shaft, remaining from an enginedectomy.

You can see the aft keel extension and extra weight added by a previous owner.

The NACA foil balanced rudder is very responsive.

Its not the traditional hull shape but it seems to do quite well in Great Lake conditions.

[jotruk]

Glad to see you have it afloat, heres a grog for ya

[maxiSwede]

Now, that looks like a very shallow draught!?

Nice boat! Happy sailing to you...

[skylark]

Yesterday, when trying to maneuver up river to get to my dock, I cut in too close to an overhanging tree and did some tree trimming with my masttop.  The tree lost a few branches and I lost a vhf antenna, which was swinging/hanging by the coax.  So I got to try my Topclimber for the first time to climb the mast and cut the antenna down. 

The Topclimber is a set up that has a seat and foot straps on two rope jams (I forgort the correct name).  You stand up on the foot straps and raise the seat a half a foot or so, then you sit down and raise the feet straps.  I found it fairly easy to do, although being in shape would help.  If you get tired you can sit and rest a while.

I'm pretty proud that I made it to the top of the mast and got the job done.  No big loss with the antenna, because I use a handheld vhf.

[Christopher]

Nice shots skylark.  That's a good lookin craft.  Have you been out on the lake at all yet?  Chilly still I bet! 

I got on the schedule yesterday to get dropped in May 28th.

If you're around the weekend of August 7th, we are planning a little trip to the mid lake buoy.  There's 5 or 6 boats coming from Milwaukee as of now.  Meet us out there!

[AdriftAtSea]

The rope jammers are usually called ascenders in rock climbing parlance.

Yesterday, when trying to maneuver up river to get to my dock, I cut in too close to an overhanging tree and did some tree trimming with my masttop.  The tree lost a few branches and I lost a vhf antenna, which was swinging/hanging by the coax.  So I got to try my Topclimber for the first time to climb the mast and cut the antenna down. 

The Topclimber is a set up that has a seat and foot straps on two rope jams (I forgort the correct name).  You stand up on the foot straps and raise the seat a half a foot or so, then you sit down and raise the feet straps.  I found it fairly easy to do, although being in shape would help.  If you get tired you can sit and rest a while.

I'm pretty proud that I made it to the top of the mast and got the job done.  No big loss with the antenna, because I use a handheld vhf.

[skylark]

You mean this buoy?

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45007

I sailed north of there a few years ago:

http://www.cruisenews.net/tanzer/2002trip.html

Note, those pictures are in reverse order for some reason.

The water in the middle of the lake is incredibly blue and clear, like crystal, very beautiful.

I'm not sure I will be able to escape work at that time but I will check my schedule, it sounds like a fun get together.

[newt]

Skylark, perhaps you could "clear" something up. I heard the great lakes waters were horribly polluted until the razor clams came. Did they clean up everything, in addition to trashing all the sewer systems?

[skylark]

All of the Great Lakes have had heavy industry around them, but industry is located in specific areas, and the Lakes are very big.  I don't think I would say that the Lakes were ever horribly polluted, although near the mouths of industrial rivers that was true.  There is far less industry today and the industry that is left is regulated so the water quality is not too bad.  The real problem is remnants of old industry, PCB's being the biggest problem. They are in river sediment and if the sediment moves, the PCB's move with them.

I think the zebra mussels have cleared up the water a bit.  Where I live, the beaches are all sand, so there is grit and sediment that gets in the water from waves breaking.  So the water near shore is a little more cloudy.  Up north they have more rocky beaches and the water is much clearer.  I think the zebra mussels may have had a small effect on water clarity.

[evantica]

Nice looking boat

[Christopher]

You mean this buoy?

That is the one!  We'll be heading out the morning of August 7th and depending on weather and sea conditions gather and chit chat on radio or whatever.  Some had visions of a cookout which might be fun to try, but could prove difficult in anything but the calmest of seas.

I think we've got the vast majority of the milwaukeesailors.com regulars participating. 

The water is gorgeous out there.  I plan on doing some swimming if the weather is right... keeping my eye out for bull sharks of course ;)

[Captain Smollett]

chit chat on radio

Which, for some reason, reminded me of this post.

Now I got a reason to slip a grog to s/v Faith.   ;D